The broken man

By Josephine Cox

Subjects: Abused children, Secrets, Fiction, Bus drivers, Family violence

Description: Sometimes a damaged child becomes a broken man ... It's 1952 and Adam Carter is seven years old, an only child with no friends or any self-confidence. His father Edward is a bully of a man: a successful and ruthless businessman, he breeds fear in the hearts of his family. Adam's mother Peggy is too cowed to protect her son, so his only support comes in the shape of Phil Wallis, the school bus driver. One particular afternoon, when Adam is his last drop of the day, Phil decides to accompany him along the darkening woodland to his house - never suspecting that, as they chat innocently, in the house at the end of the track a terrible tragedy is unfolding which will change Adam's life forever ...